Yokahama S drive - 195/50/15 or 205/50/15?

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:21 am

I am in need of new tyres all around. Have decided to buy the Yokohama S drives.

I will be putting these on 15*7 inch rims. I have a choice of 195/50/15 (which size I have been using for a number of years) or 205/50/15.

I understand that the rolling diameter is about 1.5% larger than the 195/50, but I think this is acceptable.

Anyone have experience with the 205/50 size, mainly for road use, with the occasional track day?

J

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:26 am

Jeff,

Johnd has 205 S types and loves them, not done anything on the track.

A 1.6 turbo surely wouldn't notice much about the increase and it would reduce your speedo error.

Cheers,

Peter

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:50 am

pcmx5 wrote:I take it the wheels are about to "debut" soon!
Cheers,

Peter

Thanks Peter......and sshhh....it's supposed to be a secret....all will be revealed at NatMeet.

J

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:22 am

I'd go Bridgestone RE01 Adrenalins, significantly better than Yokies, same prices.

205/50s would be good on 15x7s. I had them on 6.5 rims and they were just a touch too flexy on those but rolling radius was fine, speedo was dead accurate for once..

trader · Postby **trader** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:01 am

A bit off your question but I would agree with Manga blue - I bought the Adrenalin's after reading posts here. I havent dríven on Yokies but can only rave about Bridgestone 195x15's on 7\" rims (no turbo though). They are the quietest tyre I've ever had. Never thought it would matter with a non standard exhaust but it does. Dont care about wear. Wet grip surprised me.

Jimmy · Postby **Jimmy** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:24 am

I'm currently running 205 S-drives on 15x6.5 rims. They are a fantastic tyre with bucket loads of grip. In the wet i find they are a bit average though. I also quite like the look of 205's on the five to.

Slugoid · Postby **Slugoid** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:34 am

Anyone got pics of 15X6.5\" rims with 205 width tyres? I'm about to get some 15X6.5 and can't decide between 195 or 205. I'm more concerned about grip if more than anything as I'm so use to 205/45R16 tyres

A bit off topic, what are the price difference between 195 and 205 15\" tyres for the Bridgestone RE01??

Jimmy · Postby **Jimmy** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:59 am

15x6.5 +35 with 205/50 Yoko S-Drive
You have to be really pushing it to break traction with these on. Grip is not an issue (for me).

Not too sure about the Bridgestones but when i was pricing the Yokies, the 195's were $10 more than the 205's.

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:20 pm

195's should work better on a 6.5 inch rim. The sidewall will be squarer so less flex and more response.
I run 205/50/15 on 7 inch rims and they work well, I think they would work better on 8 inch rims which I believe Cal is running on his race car.
Jake

buttwrx · Postby **buttwrx** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:02 pm

i went from 195 kuhmo ku31 to 205 yokohama s-drives all on a 15x7 rim.

the yokohama grips more, but the car moves around more. you could say they are more proggressive on the limit. they continue to grip and gradually start to squirm/loose grip. the kuhmos just griped then let go. wet weather is much better with the yokies. i didn't want to try the re001s as they are an asemetric tyre that would mean that you cant strip and fit to get the last out of the tyres when your running a fair bit of negitive camber.

the 205s deffinetly look better under the car and fill the gards nicely. you look from behind down low and think wow, thats a fair bit of tyre under there, looks tuff. i'll probably stick to 205s on the 15x7.